Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology (IJARIT) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, scientific integrity, and editorial transparency. IJARIT adheres strictly to the principles and flowcharts established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

All parties involved in the publishing process—authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to understand, agree to, and observe these ethical standards.

1. Plagiarism & Publication Integrity Policy

IJARIT maintains a zero-tolerance policy for academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, text recycling, data fabrication/falsification, and duplicate submission.

  • Screening Protocol: All submitted manuscripts undergo mandatory similarity screening using automated detection tools (Turnitin/iThenticate) before initiating peer review.

  • Acceptable Thresholds:

    • Overall Similarity: The overall similarity index must not exceed 15% (excluding reference lists, institutional affiliations, and standard methodology titles).

    • Single Source Similarity: Similarity from any single publication or online source must remain below 3%.

    • Manuscripts exceeding these thresholds will be returned to the authors for revision or desk-rejected prior to peer review.

  • Handling Misconduct: In cases of suspected pre- or post-publication plagiarism, data manipulation, or duplicate submission, the Editorial Board investigates the matter in accordance with official COPE flowcharts. Proven misconduct will result in immediate rejection, formal retraction, or notification of the authors' host institutions.

2. Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine-Generated Tools

In accordance with COPE and ICMJE guidelines on authorship and automated tools, IJARIT enforces the following regulations regarding Generative AI:

  • Authorship Eligibility: Artificial Intelligence tools, Large Language Models (LLMs, e.g., ChatGPT, Claude), or automated writing software do not qualify for authorship. Authorship carries legal and ethical accountability for the work, which AI systems cannot assume.

  • Disclosure Requirement: If AI tools are used to assist in language editing, translation, grammar correction, or preliminary data formatting, authors must explicitly disclose their usage in the Materials and Methods or Acknowledgements section. The declaration must include the specific tool name, version number, purpose of usage, and prompt scope.

  • Image & Data Integrity: Generating synthetic experimental figures, artificial field sampling datasets, micro-photographs, or biochemical assay results via generative AI is strictly classified as data fabrication and will result in immediate manuscript rejection and author blacklisting.

3. Research Ethics & Human/Animal Welfare

Research published in IJARIT involving human participants, live vertebrate animals, field trials, or regulated biological agents must conform to international ethical frameworks:

  • Animal and Livestock Research: Studies involving live animals (e.g., poultry, livestock, fish, rodents) must comply with recognized national or institutional guidelines (e.g., Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee - IACUC). The manuscript must explicitly state compliance and include the official ethics approval reference number.

  • Human Subjects & Socio-Economic Surveys: Agricultural economics research, consumer surveys, or sensory evaluations involving human participants must include proof of informed consent and institutional review board (IRB) approval or official exemption.

  • Field & Environmental Studies: Authors conducting field trials involving agricultural chemicals, pest management agents, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or invasive species must explicitly state compliance with national biosecurity regulations and environmental safety frameworks.

4. Duties and Responsibilities of Stakeholders

A. Duties of Editors

  • Publication Decisions & Impartiality: The Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal's scope, without regard to author race, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, or political beliefs.

  • Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff will not disclose information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, designated reviewers, and the publisher.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Editors recuse themselves from processing manuscripts in which they have competing financial, personal, or collaborative relationships with any of the authors or institutions.

B. Duties of Peer Reviewers

  • Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Reviewers assist the Editorial Board in making informed decisions and provide constructive, evidence-based feedback to authors.

  • Promptness & Confidentiality: Invited reviewers who feel unqualified or cannot meet the review deadline must notify the Editor immediately. All submitted manuscripts are confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with third parties.

  • Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of authors is strictly inappropriate.

5. Post-Publication Policy: Withdrawals, Corrections, and Retractions

  • Article Withdrawal Policy: Corresponding authors may request manuscript withdrawal within 7 days of initial submission without penalty. Once a manuscript has completed peer review, entered typesetting, or been formally published, it cannot be arbitrarily withdrawn.

  • Corrections (Errata / Corrigenda): Minor errors, typos, or omissions that do not invalidate the scientific conclusions of a published paper will be addressed through a formal Correction Notice linked directly to the original article in the next available issue.

  • Retractions: An article will be retracted if there is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable (due to severe scientific misconduct or honest error), or if the work constitutes plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical research. Retraction notices will state the reason for retraction, specify who is retracting the paper, and be permanently linked to the original article PDF.

  • Whistleblower Complaints & Misconduct Allegations: The Editorial Board investigates complaints regarding authorship disputes, data falsification, or ethical breaches following COPE procedures. All parties involved will be given a fair opportunity to respond.

To report suspected ethical misconduct, data manipulation, or publication disputes, please contact the Editorial Office directly at editor@ijarit.online.